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LOT 256
Engraved W. Horton Bar-in-Wood Percussion Single Barrel
Pigeon Gun - Serial no. WH1070, 6 gauge, 35 1/8 inch flat top round
bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This gun was manufactured by Birmingham
gunmaker William Horton who opened a second shop in Glasgow in 1855. The smoothbore Damascus
barrel has a full-length sighting flat with a bead front sight and is engraved “W. HORTON GLASGOW”, and
the underside has Birmingham proof marks, “GP”, “7”, and “W.H 1070.” The casehardened breech plug has the
matching serial number on the hook and is engraved with a scene of a bird in flight on top and scrollwork
on the bolster surrounding the gold plug. The standing breech and bar-in-wood lock are also scroll
engraved, and the latter is signed “W. HORTON”. The trigger guard has a dog and bird hunting scene on the bow and the serial number on the tang
along with scrollwork. The half-stock has a horn forend cap, checkered forend and wrist, sliver plate inlet at the breech, a blank
silver wrist escutcheon, and blued buttplate with scrollwork on the heel. The gun
was purchased by Norman R. Blank from Martin B. Retting, Inc. on October 24, 1956.
CONDITION: Very good with generally distinct engraving, light original finish, dark
brown patina, minor oxidation, and mild overall wear. The stock is also good and
has some scrapes in the otherwise crisp checkering, mild dings and scratches, small
insect spots on the horn cap, and fairly minor overall wear. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: Martin B. Retting, Inc.; The Norman R. Blank Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 255
Engraved Joseph Harkom Back Action Percussion Target
Rifle with Smith & Davenport American Cast Steel Barrel - Serial no. 332, 41
cal., 28 1/2 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. This is
a very interesting mid-19th century percussion target rifle from Edinburgh gunmaker Joseph Harkom.
The barrel has a beaded blade front sight mounted on a matted ramp, dovetailed notch rear sight, matted
breech section signed “J-Harkom Edinburgh” in script, and a casehardened breechplug with scroll engraving and
“332” on the hook and underside. The lower right flat of the barrel is marked “SMITH & DAVENPORT/WORCESTER, MASS/
CAST-STEEL”. The upper tang has a hole for mounting an absent peep sight. The detented back action lock is signed “J. HARKOM”
underneath the hammer and has a sliding safety and scroll engraving. The mounts feature further scroll and foliate engraving and
include a compartment in the grip cap and a small patchbox with patches inside. The pistol grip half-stock has a dark horn forend
cap, checkering on the forend and grip, and an oval cheekpiece. The rifle is listed on the included 6/18/63 dated receipt from
Jackson Arms to Norman R. Blank. Barrels by Smith Davenport are found on fine Pennsylvania rifles.
CONDITION: Fine with 30% of the original brown, casehardened, and blue finish remaining, gray and brown
patina on the balance, mild oxidation concentrated towards the muzzle, and mild wear. The stock is fine and
has some minor chips/flakes at the edges, crisp checkering, and mild scratches and dings. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Norman R. Blank Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000